Did you know 22,000 Leeds people – including children – were officially diagnosed with malnutrition in 2012? And yet half the food we grow globally (1 billion tons per year) never reaches our tables, but is instead wasted.
Adam Smith – in collaboration with a whole load of other great people – is trying to change that, starting here in Leeds. He is the founder and co-director of the Real Junk Food Project, a community interest company which started up in Armley, which aims to abolish waste food through a ‘Pay-As You-Feel’ concept, empowering communities and inspiring individuals.
Adam, a qualified chef, is justifiably proud quietly-growing empire of social cafes across the country.
Here’s his TEDX talk about the project from a couple of years ago:
Adam said:
“You can’t change the world unless you change your home town first.”
The Real Junk Food Project is a collaborative effort between catering professionals and activists to bring about a radical change in our food system. As well as the positive environmental impacts of reducing edible food waste, the project also has clear social benefits through operating a strictly pay-as-you-feel (PAYF) policy.
What do you think? If you were to change your home town first, what would you do? Have your say in the comments below